'Low pressure in aircrafts does not cause clotting'

          Washington, June 29: Low air pressure in pressurized aircraft cabins is not the cause for blood clotting and deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). According to a report in the Lancet, Peter Robbins and his colleagues from the University of Oxford, UK performed a study in which they exposed eight healthy human participants to eight hours of hypoxia and eight hours of normal air as a control. The blood samples taken before and after the exposure were analysed for markers of activated coagulation. No significant change in clotting activity between hypoxic and control environments was observed. However, the risk of venous thrombosis might be increased during aeroplane flights, because of the activation of coagulation by low oxygen concentration (hypoxia) that is caused by the reduction of pressure in the aircraft cabin. Peter Robbins says, "Although our findings exclude a major activation of the clotting system by an eight-hour exposure to hypoxia, they do not exclude more minor effects, since the number of participants was insufficient to do this analysis. In addition, our results do not exclude a major activation of the clotting system in a subset of susceptible individuals."

Long flights may cause a rare type of stroke (Go To Top)

          Washington, June 24: Air travel increases the risk of a rare type of stroke, a condition called pulmonary embolism, in which developing blood clots in leg veins can then enter the bloodstream and block an artery in the lungs. In some cases, the opening can allow the blood clot to enter the arteries of the brain, causing a stroke. According to a study in the June 24 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology, the type of stroke can occur in people who have a patent foramen ovale, or an opening between two chambers in the heart. The opening is present in about 30 percent of the general population.

          For the study, researchers examined all passengers over an eight- year period who had pulmonary embolism when they arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France. Of the 155 million passengers during that period, 65 people with pulmonary embolus were transported by a medical team. Of those, four people, or six percent of those with pulmonary embolus, had strokes. All four had patent foramen ovales. Patent foramen ovale is a known risk factor for stroke. No other cause of stroke was found in the four patients. All four were on flights lasting at least eight hours. Author Frederic Lapostolle, MD, of Avicenne Hospital in Bobigny, France, said that physicians should be aware that pulmonary embolism can lead to stroke, particularly after air travel, and should look for signs of the other condition in patients with one condition, as treatment may be different when both conditions are present. For prevention of clot-formation, travelers must take a walk, wear support stockings and avoid alcohol while drinking fluids in plenty to prevent dehydration.

India set to buy Israeli Phalcons (Go To Top)

          Bangalore, June 19: India is set to buy airborne Phalcon early warning radar systems from Israel in the biggest arms deal since the two countries established full diplomatic relations 11 years ago, an official said on Thursday. "Phalcon negotiations are going on. US has cleared it," VK Aatre, scientific adviser to the defence minister, told reporters in Bangalore. Israel, which has rapidly emerged as India's second-largest arms supplier after Russia, is also negotiating the sale to India of sophisticated anti-ballistic Arrow missiles. Analysts say the deepening defence relationship between India and Israel is part of a push to forge tighter links between the two countries, who both believe they are fighting Islamic terrorism that is supported by hostile neighbours.

          Washington this month dropped its objection to the 1.2 billion dollar sale of Phalcon radars, which will be mounted on Russia-built aircraft to watch the border with Pakistan. Washington last year persuaded Israel t suspend the sale when India and Pakistan were on the brink of war. Washington's approval now for the sale is part of a US effort to encourage Israel not to sell the Phalcon system to China, US officials have said. Washington fears Israeli, and US, technology sold to China could be used against Taiwan or end up in Iran or North Korea. The United States has not yet cleared the sale to India of Israel's Arrow, the world's only operational anti-ballistic missile system.

          New Delhi believes the 2.5 billion dollar Arrow system would help it face down the nuclear threat from Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan held nuclear tests 1998. They came close to war last year over Indian allegations, denied by Pakistan, that Islamabad trains, arms and funds Muslim militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir. India, which relied on the former Soviet Union for arms during the Cold War, represents a major market for Israel. Aatre added the country's indigenously developed light combat aircraft (LCA) was ready for test flights to break the sound barrier. "Within the next couple of weeks LCA must break the sound barrier. Day after tomorrow I am reviewing a meeting then I will finalise it," Aatre added. LCA has been taken on two successful Technology Demonstration flights since its maiden flight in January 2001 and the first prototype version is expected to fly later this year.

Overflight curbs hurt Pakistan more: CAA (Go To Top)

          Rawalpindi, June 19: Overflight sanctions on Indian carriers were hurting Pakistan more, according to Civil Aviation Authority Director-General Air Marshal Salim Arshad (Retd). Briefing the press on Wednesday at Islamabad Airport, he said the decision regarding the opening of the airspace was a political matter. The CAA chief said till now no specific efforts were being made for the opening of the airspace, reports Dawn. National flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines, he said, was more comfortably positioned over the issue of closing operations to India or not flying through its space, but the matter was more perplexing for the CAA because of the large number of Indian flights that had been using Pakistan space. India had imposed sanctions on PIA on overflying its territory on Dec 27, 2002. The ban was reciprocated by the Pakistan government. India withdrew the sanctions on June 10, 2003, but Pakistan is yet to respond and hence the sanctions effectively remain in place.

Two trainee IAF pilots safe after crash (Go To Top)

          Chennai, June 18: Two trainee IAF pilots escaped with minor injuries when their trainer aircraft crash-landed at Thoraipakkam, about 25 km from here, on Wednesday morning. According to defence sources, the mishap took place after the plane developed some technical snags. The two officers have been brought back to the base. Deepak HPT-32 Piston Trainer was on a routine training sortie near the air force station at Tambaram. Pilots Sq Ldr RS Nandedkar and Sq Ldr Raj Vaid forcelanded the plane at Mahabalipuram. An inquiry has been ordered.

Musharraf likely to launch `Super-7' test flight (Go To Top)

          Islamabad, June 15: In a 50:50 joint venture, Pakistan and China have almost developed a fighter aircraft `Super-7'. It is likely to be tested sometime next month. Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is expected to visit China to formally launch the aircraft. A prototype of the "all-weather, multi-purpose fighter jet" was just completed, The News quoted Pakistani official sources as saying on Friday.

          The two countries thought of developing the aircraft after they failed to acquire new fighter aircraft from Russia, UK, France and US. The project was also delayed after Russia last year declined to supply MIG-27 engines to boost the speed of the aircraft. As per the agreement, engineers from China and Pakistan are working for the development and production of the aircraft with input from Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). Pakistan has 50 per cent share in developing Super-7, both in terms of financial contribution and technical know-how. The single-seat, turbofan engine-powered fighter aims to gradually replace the F-7, MiG-21 and Q-5 series aircraft, which are currently in service in China, besides some developing countries. Compared to F-7, Q-5 and other fighter aircraft series, the Super-7 features a larger weapon-load capacity and a greater radar-detection range and it is stealth-capable. Its maximum external storage weight is 3.8 tons, and a radar-detection range of up to 100 km, compared with current jets, which have a range of 30 km.

`Smart' way to spot DVT-prone plane passengers (Go To Top)

          Washington, June 12: Airline passengers who are at a risk of developing deep vein thrombosis can now be spotted through a high-tech intelligent seat design called the "smart seat." According to a report in BBC, the "smart seat" works via a raft of built-in movement sensors, which are placed close to the head, the shoulders, lower back and legs. These sensors send the data to the computer, which tells the cabin crew if a passenger has been still for too long. Sitting still for a long time, as happens on flights, can lead to the formation of a blood clot in one of the deep veins of the body, usually in the leg, which is called DVT. However, elderly or overweight people, or women who are on the Pill are the more likely sufferers.

          The seat also indicates signs of too much movement, a potential sign of a nervous flyer. A prototype of the "smart seat" has been designed by a British company called Qinetiq, as part of a project to redesign the interiors of planes to make them more comfortable to travel and work in. The company is now in discussion with several airlines about introducing the seats. Dr Chris Thorpe, who designed the chair, says, "We want to make flying safer and more enjoyable for passengers, and to help cabin crew find out what's happening to passengers more accessibly."

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